Canadian weightlifter Andrew Pretty expressed his satisfaction with winning a bronze medal in the 96kg senior men’s category at the Commonwealth Weightlifting Championship held at the Vodafone Arena in Suva. In an interview with SUNsports, Pretty acknowledged that his preparation for the event was not ideal, yet he managed to exceed his expectations.
“It was great and I feel like it’s taken a long time to get here as it turned out better than I thought,” he shared. He dedicated his victory to his wife, Deagan Pretty.
Pretty noted that his first visit to Fiji was a remarkable experience, praising the beauty of the country and the kindness of its people. He expressed a desire to return for a vacation in the future.
He credited his success to the support from his teammates and coaches, mentioning his participation in senior nationals in Canada prior to the championship. Pretty is considering competing in the senior nationals again next May and aims to improve his hip health.
Inspired by his first coach, Pretty emphasized the importance of perseverance in the sport. “It’s awesome to see youths and juniors in any competitions. The sport is hard to do but if you stick to it you’ll be able to do what you can.”